Gastrointestinal Helminths from Turkeys in Southeastern United States

Abstract

Viscera from 390 wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) from 31 collection areas in 10 southeastern states, from 76 pen-raised wild turkeys from Beaufort County, South Carolina, and from 68 domestic turkeys from 7 farm areas located in the states of Florida, Virginia, and West Virginia were examined for helminths. Species of helminths and infection percentages of wild turkeys (=W), penraised wild turkeys (=P), and domestic turkeys (=D) follow: TREMATODA-Brachylaema virginiana 4.4 percent (W); Cotylurus flabelliformis 4.4 percent (W); Echinoparyphium recurvatum 7.2 percent (W); Zygocotyle lunata 1.8 percent (W). CESTODA-Davainea meleagridis 11 percent (W); Hymenolepis cantaniana 4.1 percent (W), 1.5 (D); Hymenolepis carioca 10.5 percent (W), 7.9 (P), 1.5 (D); Metroliasthes lucida 43.1 percent (W); Raillietina georgiensis 6.2 percent (W), 18.4 (P); Raillietina ransomi 12.6 percent (W), 6.6 (P), 2.9 (D); Raillietina williamsi 39.0 percent (W), 27.6 (P); Hymenolepid 2.6 percent (W). NEMATODA--Ascaridia dissimilis 66.2 percent (W), 71.1 (P), 35.3 (D); Ascaridia galli 1.5 percent (W), 3.9 (P), 17.6 (D); Capillaria bursata 1.3 percent (W), 3.9 (P); Capillaria obsignata 9.7 percent (W), 73.7 (P), 14.7 (D); Heterakis gallinae 62.3 percent (W), 53.9 (P), 36.8 (D); Strongyloides avium 0.3 percent (W); Strongyloides sp. 0.5 percent (W); Trichostrongylus tenuis 5.1 percent (W), 6.6 (P). The following nematodes were reported present in one or more birds: Capillaria annulata (W); Dispharynx nasuta (W) and (P); Gongylonema ingluvicola (W) and (P); Seurocyrnea colini (W) and (P); Seurocyrnea sp. (W) and (P). The two flukes (Brachylaema virginiana and Cotylurus flabelliformis) collected from wild turkeys constituted new host records. Numerous new state records of turkey helminths were established. The high percentage of Capillaria obsignata in pen-raised birds indicates the danger of introducing these birds to new locations. The high infectivity rates of all groups with Heterakis gallinae should not be overlooked because the ova of the cecal worm transmit the etiological agent (Histomonas meleagridis) of blackhead. Information on the geographic distribution and incidence of gastrointestinal helminth infections of wild and pen-raised wild turkeys is limited. In an effort to correct this deficiency, a survey of parasitism in turkeys was conducted, and the findings were compared with a similar study on domestic turkeys. Gardiner and Wehr (1949), Mosby and Handley (1943), and Self and Bouchard (1950) have published limited reports on the incidence of helminth infections among wild turkeys. The interrelationships of parasitism among wild, pen-reared wild, and domestic birds have not been established: for instance, Reid and Nugara (1961) found substantial evidence that a new cestode species (the tapeworm Raillietina georgiensis) had been introduced into a flock of domestic turkeys by penraised wild birds from Fitzgerald, Georgia. This study was partially financed by a National Science Foundation Grant (No. G-12999), by the Southeastern Association of Game and Fish Commissioners, and by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Region 4). The present report has been condensed from a thesis submitted by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the M.S. degree. For procuring viscera of wild and penraised wild turkeys, specific appreciation is expressed to biologists of the game and fish agencies of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, 1 Journal series paper No. 262, College Experiment Station, University of Georgia, Athens. 2 Present address: Director, Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory, Charles Pfizer & Company, Inc., Cullman, Alabama.